Floating spring type fastener



Nov. 10,1931. J. w. DEWS 1,831,291

FLOATING SPRING TYPE FASTENER Filed Sept. 6. 1928 Patented Nov. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES ATENT oF icE JOSEPH w. nrws, or WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, :AssIeNoaTo scovrnt" MANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, or WATCERBURY, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION or con- NECTIOU T FLOATING SPRING TYPE FASTENER Application filed September 6 1928. Serial' No. 304,283.

The object of this invention is to provide a snap fastener socket, in which the active stud-engaging'element is resilient and. is so mounted as to float in its cap, that is to say,

is movable in any direction so as to prevent any abnormal strain from distorting it.

The invention consists of a stud-engaging element loosely supported in a cap by means of an annular anvil, which is interposed between the stud-engaging element and the back of the cap in. such way as to turn the attaching eyelet away from the stud-engaging element and thereby allow perfect freedom of movement of the stud-engaging element, as I will proceed now to explain more fully and finally claim.

In the accompanyingdrawings illustrating the invention, in the several figures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1 is a top plan view, and Fig. 2 a cross section of the outer element or the cap. Fig. 3 is a top plan view, and Fig. 4: a cross section of a filler. Fig. 5 is a top plan view, and Fig. 6 a cross section of the stud-engaging element.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view, and Fig. 8 a cross section of the anvil. Fig. 9 is a top plan view, and Fig. 10 is a cross section of the back or collet of the cap. Fig. 11 is av cross section of the fastener mounted. Fig. 12 is an elevation of a rigid stud. Fig. 13 is across section of a modified-form of stud-engaging element.

The outer element or cap 1, may be provided with the rim flange 2, and in this cap is arranged the cupped filler 3. 4 is the floating stud-engaging element presently described in detail- Surrounding the studengaging element is an annular anvil 5,

curved substantially at the upper end of the stud-engaging element; and these several elements are held in place within the cap by means of the oppositely curved back or collet 6, over which the flange 2 is closed, all substantially as shown in Fig. 11. The cupped'filler serve-s to restrain the stud-engaging element and the anvil from displacement in the act of setting the socket by means of the attaching eyelet.

The stud-engaging element 4 is in the form of an eyelet, open at both ends, and has the upper outwardly curved rim 7 and the depending barrel 8, which latter is slitted longitudinally at a plurality of points, as indicated at 9, and withthe lower portion of its slitted barrel inclined inwardly,=as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 11; orthis end may be turned inwardly or reverted as show'nfat 10 in Fig.

As shown, particularly in Fig. 11, the anvil 5is of enough larger diameterthan the outside diameter of the stud-engaging element to permit freedom of movement of the studengaging element within the cap without cramping the slitted barrel of the stud-engaging element; and moreover, there is a space between the outside of the anvil and the inner edge of the back or collet 6 which 7 receives the barrel of the attaching eyelet 11 and curves it outwardly against the back or collet, as shown in Fig. 11.

As Wlll be observed, the anvll 5 removes the attaching eyelet entirely out of possible contact with the stud-engaging element and thus preservesthe mobility or floating characteristic of said element.

This floating characteristic of the stud-engaging element is advantageous, in that when a strain is placed on the fastener when it is engaged with the stud 12, the stud-engaging element is automatically pulled against the anvil which thereupon acts as a stop and also as a support, and functioning as a support, any abnormal strain would be prevented from distorting the stud-engaging element. The stud-engaging element floats equally well in all directions, and thus it is practically indestructible. 'Without this floating feature, an abnormal strain in any direction Would have a tendency to pull the stud-engaging element out of shape, and once one of the engaging tongues of the slitted end of the stud-engaging element is distorted, the fastener will not function properly; l

The addition of the reverted portions of the slitted end of the stud-engaging element adds to the durability ofthe element.

Variations in the details of construction are permissible within the principle of the invention and the claims following.

a cap provided with a flanged rim, a collet,

a cupped filler, a stud-engaging element of open-ended eyelet form having an upper outturned rim and a depending slitted barrel adapted to resiliently engage a complemental stud at a plurality of points, and an outwardly curved anvil mounted in the cap below the rim of the stud-engaging element, said collet, the cupped filler, the stud-engaging element and the anvil being united by closing in the flanged rim of the cap about their outer edges, said anvil being of larger internal diameter than the external diameter of the stud-engaging clement and of less external diameter than the internal diameter of the back ofthe cap, thereby serving to support the stud-engaging element in a mobile of floating condition, there being a space between the outside of the anvil and the inner edge of the col'let to receive and anchor a means for attaching the fastener upon an object and free of contact with the stud-engaging element.

2. A floating spring type fastener, having -a cap provided with a flanged rim, a collet,

and a cupped filler, said filler serving to prevent undue displacement of the aftermentioned parts, a stud-engag1ng element having an upper outturned rim and a depending slitted end, and an outwardly curved anvil mounted in the cap below the rim of the studengaging element and of larger internal diameter than the external diameter of the studengaging element and of less external diameter than the internal diameter of the back of the cap, thereby serving to support the stud-engaging element in a mobile or floating condition, combined with an attaching element which engages the fastener between its collet and anvil and free of direct contact with the stud-engaging element.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 4 day of September, A. D.

JOSEPH W. DEWVES. 

